If youre an HR or a company manager, you understand the hassle of scheduling hundreds of interviews every day. Gone are the days when you had to use the old-fashioned pen-and-paper method to jot down the candidates answers.Â
Theres no need to listen to recordings back and forth to understand how the candidate answered your question. With the help of AI summarizers, you can summarize and create an interview report within a few minutes.Â
I have tried summarizing both manually and automatically to provide you with firsthand knowledge of how to make interview summarization a breeze.Â
In this article, Ill walk you through the steps to summarize an interview with editable templates. Also, Ill reveal an AI summarizer that can generate an interview summary in minutes.Â
Interviews capture a personal perspective that straight reporting simply cannot. They allow readers to hear directly from interesting people in their own words. For writers, interviews are an invaluable tool to craft more engaging and insightful articles.
But conducting an effective interview and transforming it into a compelling article takes skill Follow these 8 steps to learn how to write an interview article that informs, entertains and connects with readers
1. Choose Your Interview Subject Carefully
The interview subject makes or breaks your article Seek out people with unique experiences and insights Good interview subjects include
- Accomplished professionals like doctors, lawyers, or entrepreneurs
- Talented creatives like artists, musicians, or writers
- People in interesting life circumstances like new immigrants or someone who lived through major events
- Passionate people with strong opinions on relevant issues
Aim for interview subjects whose thoughts, stories or expertise shed light on topics that matter to your readers. An insightful interviewee hands you the ingredients for a riveting article.
2. Conduct Background Research
Before the interview, become well-versed on your subject. Google them, read past interviews they’ve done, browse their social media, consume their products or work.
This gives context to ask meaningful questions. It also shows the interviewee you respect their time by coming prepared. Think about what background information readers would need on this person. Research lays the foundation for an informative, focused article.
3. Prepare Creative Interview Questions
Avoid dry, predictable questions that elicit generic answers. Phrase open-ended questions to draw out untold stories, unknown facts and controversial opinions.
Some examples:
- What’s the craziest thing that happened when…?
- What’s the biggest misconception people have about you?
- What keeps you up at night?
- What would you tell your 20 year-old self?
Prepare plenty of questions to keep the conversation flowing. Be ready to improvise follow-up questions in response to interesting answers.
4. Set Expectations by Planning the Interview
Contact the interview subject by email first. Explain why you want to interview them and how their insights will help readers. Discuss planned article length and purpose.
Agree on a date, time and location for the interview. Let them know approximately how long it will take. Outline if it will be phone, video or in-person. Setting expectations upfront makes for a smooth interview.
5. Conduct the Interview Professionally
Dress appropriately and arrive early. Warm up with casual chat before starting. Begin with easier questions and build to deeper topics. Listen actively without interrupting. Avoid finishing their sentences.
Encourage them to share stories and details by responding with interest. Never argue or contradict. Be respectful but seek clarity if an answer is vague. Wrap up by asking if they have anything to add. Thank them sincerely for their time.
6. Produce an Accurate Transcript
Transcribe the full interview word-for-word soon after conducting it. Or hire a transcription service for longer interviews.
A transcript avoids misquoting and lets you pull illuminating quotes later. Take detailed notes on tone and body language like (laughs) or (stern) to add color. Time stamp exchanges to make transcribing audio easier.
7. Decide on the Article Format
A full transcript rarely makes a compelling article. More often, interview articles synthesize key insights in the writer’s own voice. Or they quote the most insightful soundbites from the subject.
Consider if a profile format suits your purpose – using the interview to tell a broader story about the subject. Or pick the most newsworthy revelations and spin them into an article. Feature the quotes that back up your angle.
8. Craft the Article from the Interview
Begin by establishing why readers should care about this person and interview. Pull 2-3 juicy quotes that support your angle. Use subject details and scene descriptions to add color as you report what the interview revealed.
Wrap up by explaining why this interview matters and how it gave readers new insight. Quote the most profound statements. End by vividly depicting the scene as the interview wraps up.
With these steps, you now have the tools to write an interview article that grips readers’ attention! The final piece should flow smoothly in your own voice while liberally incorporating quotes from the interview subject.
Turn their personal insights into an informative, entertaining article that leaves readers feeling like they got to sit down with this compelling person and have a conversation. That’s the power and appeal of great interview writing.
What is an Interview Summary?Â
As the name defines, the interview summary means scanning the content and writing a shorter version of the conversation.Â
Since it is not practical for the recruiting team to pass on the entire interview conversation to others. They prefer summarizing the discussion into a written summary, which can then be shared with others.Â
The primary benefit of creating an interview summary is that it lets you save time. A reader understands how tough it is to read long paragraphs. It not only leads to time wastage but also hampers productivity.Â
For this reason, people prefer reading summaries. A well-crafted summary can convey necessary information quickly and effectively. It can help improve the decision-making process, ensuring everyone can access the required information with a single click.Â
Step 2: Note Down the Key TakeawaysÂ
The next point is to write down the most important key takeaways from the interview. You can create short bullet points that focus on the major themes.Â
The best method is to create notes of how confidently the candidate answered the questions. Instead of interpreting anything, focus on how their answers connected to the topic.Â
How To write an Interview Article | Flipsnack.com
What is a written interview?
The written component of the interview might involve responding to correspondence from a stakeholder — for example, a letter of complaint from a member of the community who lives near to the school and has been upset by students throwing litter into their garden.
How do you prepare for a writer interview?
Before going into your writer interview, try to figure out the format. Sometimes, employers might ask you to complete a writing or grammar test to gauge your skills. Ask questions. Toward the end of your interview, the hiring manager may ask, “Do you have any questions for me?”
What questions do interviewers ask about writing skills?
An interviewer may want to know how you have developed your writing skills to determine how you came into this industry and whether you have any formal education. This question may also help an interviewer determine whether you are willing to continue developing and improving your skills.
